Contact lens



Oct. 18, 1938. A. F. DITTMER CONTACT mans Filed Aug. 21, 19:57

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ARTHUR F. DITTMER INVEN OR Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.133.493 CONTACT LENS Arthur F. Dittmer,

Rochester, N. Y., assignor to a Banach & Lomb Optical Company, Rochester,

N. Y., a. corporation of New Iork Application August 21,- 1931, Serial No. 1co,2o5 s Claims.- (c1. as-54) The present invention relates to contact lenses and more particularly to means for marking same. At the present time, contact lenses may be fitted from a trial set in which each contact lenshas a glass corneal portion and a rigid scleral rim. The scieral rims are made on predetermined toric and spherical curves and, for convenience, it isessential that the both radii and one axis of the scieral rim be permanently marked on the contact E1388. I a

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a contact lens with 'a mark which is visible when 01! the eye and invisible when on of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 is a rear view of a contact lens embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section taken on line H of F18. l. The contact lens of the present invention con-- sists of a transparent eal part 10 and a 30 scieral rim ii. 'The corneal portion," is. preferably formed of glass while'the scieral rim preferably consists of a hard, rigid, moldable'material impervious to the fluids of the eye. One suitable substance is the synthetic resin commercially 35 known under the trade name of "Luxene". Of

course, other materials such as glass or other synthetic resins'couid be used. but since the composi- -tionof theriinformsnopartofthepresentine vention, no further is necessary One application *or. the present invention is.

found when contactlenses are fitted from a set of trial lenses. Thescleralrimsoi' thele of such'a setwouldbemadeontorieforms have one radius R1 in one meridian and'anotherradius 5 R inthe meridian at right angles to-Rr. Of course, when theradiiareequaLtherimwould be Insuchasehitisnecessarythattheradiiand thepositionofonemeridianoraxisbeclearly 50 marked on the contact lens itself. This marking ifplaced-onthecorneaisectionaJtmust be invisiblewhen the contact lens is on the eye. according to the present invention. a suitable legend" suchastbemuresixloinl 'imlis etchedengravedortheiikemtheinnersurfsoe mbeconvenientlyplaoedonthescieralrim of the corneal portion '20. Such a marking" is visible when the contactlens is dry but when the contact lens is on the eye, the fluid between thelens and eye extends into the etched or engraved marks and renders them invisible against I the iris.

The figures 8 and 10 of the legend H may be arbitrary figures denoting-,respectively, the two curves R1 and Re and the legend 22 is placed so that one meridian or axis, in the drawing the meridian or axis of the curve R1, passes through the 1:. Thus when a properly fitting toric lens is found, the patient can always replace it by merely making sure that the a: of the legend 22 is inits proper position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide a contact lens with a permanent mark which is-visible when the lens is dry and invisible when the lens is in position on the eye.

The term etch as used throughout the specifl- I cation and claims includes any marking where the surface is merely roughened or cut so that it can be filled with fluid, and includes engraving,

scribing, scratching or similar marking. Various modifications can, of course, be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims. I

I claimt 1. A lens'comprising a West corneal portion and a toric scieral rim, said transparent corneal portion having an index mark etched on its inner surface to designate one axis of the term scieral rim.

' 2. A- contact lens comprising a transparent corneal portion and a toric scieral rim, said transparent corneal portion having the radii of the toric scieral rim etched on its inner surface.

8. A contact lens comprising a transparent corneal portion and a toric scieral rim; said transparent corneal toric rim and the position of one axis of said rim etched on its inner surface.

portion having the radii of the 4.A contact lens comprising a transparent glass corneal lens section. and a toxic scieral rim of moldable material secured thereto, said glass corneal lens section being etched on its inner surface to designate one axis of thetoric scieral" 5.1 contact lens comprising a'transpsrent glass corneal lens section, and a toric scieral rim of moldable material secured thereto. said glass cornealienssectionbeingetchedonitsinnersurfacetodesignatetheradiiofthetoricselerairim.

mm 1''. nrrrm. 

